Robert Mann: 'Jesus medicine' and modern Japan

Wednesday

Aug 15, 2012 at 12:01 AMAug 15, 2012 at 2:22 PM

Architect William Merrell Vories arrived in Japan in 1905 to share the gospel of Christ. He found a remote corner of the country where no other missionary would bother to visit and supported himself by teaching English.

Robert Mann

Architect William Merrell Vories arrived in Japan in 1905 to share the gospel of Christ. He found a remote corner of the country where no other missionary would bother to visit and supported himself by teaching English.

Vories began to have converts to Christianity, but the local Buddhist priests were not amused. In addition to physically attacking the new Christians, the priests managed to get Vories fired from his job. He found himself with no means of support and a group of Christian men who had been expelled from their homes for their new faith.

In his book, "Adventurers for God," written in the days following World War II, Reader’s Digest senior editor Clarence Hall gives an account of Vories’ experience in Japan and how the Bible re-shaped the business environment of a nation. Contemporary missionary Loren Cunningham re-tells the story in "The Book That Transforms Nations."

At a dire crossroads in his life, Vories went before God in prayer and began to think of his training in architecture. Though he was far from the business centers in Japan, he decided to found an architectural firm with his new band of Christian brothers. The venture became the Omi Brotherhood and the focus was “business with a mission.”

Over time, the group met with amazing success, but only kept for themselves what was needed for living expenses. The rest of their earnings was poured into humanitarian and evangelistic endeavors. Any form of corruption or bribery was rejected up front.

The Omni Brotherhood branched into other lines of business, becoming the sole manufacturers of Mentholatum ointment in Japan. A special label was placed on every jar inviting users to participate in a Bible correspondence course, and in rural areas the product became known as the “Jesus medicine.” Approximately one year before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Vories became a Japanese citizen.

World War II nearly destroyed the brotherhood, with the military’s need for Mentholatum keeping the company alive. Due to threats, Vories spent time hiding in the mountains with his wife, surviving on edible leaves and weeds. However, the Allied victory provided a new and unique opportunity to once again minister to a nation.

During reconstruction, Vories was called upon by both sides to help make a new start for Japan. He received invitations to speak in universities, hold evangelistic meetings, and share the “spiritual aspects of democracy.” He was summoned to the Imperial Palace to discuss “Christian democracy” with the emperor. He was a again a trusted countryman and helped ease the nation’s passage through a jarring transition.

The new generation rising up during reconstruction had last names that would become brand names recognized around the globe. Just like the previous generation of business leaders who would travel to study the success of the Omi Brotherhood, their views on business, ethics and democracy would be influenced by a missionary who sought Christ above all else. The “Jesus medicine” carried on.

Robert Mann is managing editor of eChristianNews.com and can be contacted at rmann@echristiannews.com.